Sci-box_Beams

			Beam me up!


		Testing the strength of horizontal beams made of various materials.

		Be careful if you need to cut any of your materials to length.

PLAN	Choose a selection of different beams (SEE "I WILL NEED" > > >). How will you support the ends of the beams, and how will you keep them in place? You could gradually add weights until each beam breaks or bends - but how much bending is acceptable? What weights will you need? How will you add the weights? What data will you collect? Will you need to repeat any part of the investigation?			I WILL NEED	Various "beams" (e.g.: stick of spaghetti; paper straw; thin wooden stick; piece of wire; strip of thick card or corrugated paper; twig from a tree; a piece of string; etc.) Weights. Paper & pencil.
				I MAY NEED	Ruler. String.
				FAIR TEST	Does the length of the "beam" matter? Where will you attach the weights?

	PREDICTION	Which of your "beams" do you think will be strongest? Perhaps everyone helping with the investigation could make their own prediction list. How does this investigation connect with what you have already learned about different materials?

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY	What did you do? Give a clear step-by-step explanation. Which beams actually broke and which beams only bent? Did you encounter any problems? What did you do to overcome these?			COLLECT DATA	What weights did you use? If you repeated the experiment, were your results consistent?
				ANALYSE DATA	Which type of beam is strongest? You could draw a chart showing strongest to weakest in order. Can you explain your findings?
				PRESENT FINDINGS	What is the best way to show what you did? Would a diagram make things clearer? What is the best way to show your findings? Perhaps you could make a display of the various beams you used - both "before" and "after" - arranged in order of strength.

	EVALUATE INVESTIGATION	If someone else was going to carry out this investigation, what tips or advice would you give them? If you were going to do this investigation again, what would you do to improve it? What other materials would you like to investigate?

	If you have carried out this investigation, click the icon to send in your results to Brainboxx and we may publish your work on the website. It is best to e-mail the results of your investigation or you may need to send them by post. Make sure you get permission from a teacher, parent or other adult before you get in touch.